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i^"9'^lT,^'^ STATES OF AMERICA, 




The tatre af a Caliban, 



THE LOVE OF A CALIBAN : 
A Romantic Opera in One Act. 
By ELIA W. PEATTIE. 



Published at Wausau. Wisconsin, 
By VAN VECHTEN 6 ELLIS. 
in January, MDCCCXCVIII. 




TwoenpiKWcttvi 



QUU COH/, 









52?i3 



COPYRIGHTED. 1898. 

By VAN VECHTEN 6 ELLIS. 

All Dfam«tic Rights Reierved, 



Of this edition of The Love of a Caliban, 
but three hundred copies were made, and of 
them this is No. 



THE LOVE OF A CALIBAN, 

A Romantic Opera in One Act, 

CHARACTERS, 

The Lord Pietro, Doge of Venice / 

The Lord Ascanio, Suitor to Lucreziaf 

Massimilliano, Jester to Pietro i 

The Lady Lucrezia, Daughter to Pietro / 

The Lady Marguerita, Companion to Lucrezia^ 

SCENE? 

Venice, in the XVth Century, 




NOTE. 

ITHOUT doubt, the success of this little opera 
would depend upon two things { first, the beauty 
of the melody of Massimilliano's song, which 
should run through overture, interlude and 
finale, and which should be at once passionate and delicate in 
its character, and second, the ability of the singer playing 
Massimilliano to act well. He should be a good comedian, 
and his actions throughout the opera should be grotesque and 
absurd, never conveying a hint of the pride and ambition, 
not to say the suffering, which he finally shows in the last 
scene. He should be capable, during the last scene, between 
his entrance and his tragic moment, of diverting the audience 
with comical tricks, which must be the outcome of his person^ 
ality, and can not well be set down for an actor. 

The lines might have been written in rhyme, but it 
seemed better and more natural to put most of them in rhythm. 



SCENE FIRST. 

A lady's luxurious boadoir. with a very wide md 
deep window at the rear, showing a vi;w of the Grand 
Canal at night, with lights on it. The boudoir has many 
flowers in it. and palms, and statues, but no pidures. 
Couches, silken pillows, low chairs, mirrors, rugs and 
draperies of rich colors make op the furnishings. The 
room is lit — ostensibly — by lamps of antique and curious 
shapes which stand upon the tables and the floor. 

The stage is vacant upon the rising of the curiam. 
From without comes the splash of water from a passing 
gondola, and a gondolier's voice is hc^d singing ; 




OU can tell by the moon when the stortn will ^ *\^ L,3UB 



rise) 
I You can read her mood in my lady's eye& 
My lady hath less love than hate. 
But I like a stormy sea — eh, mate? 
A wind that wails and a sea that pounds — 
Eh, mate ? A surf that thunders and drowns I 
Aye mate ! And I love a lady's hate. 

The song becomes fainter at each line, ind is nevei 
loud. It dies away. Voices arc heard without on the 
Canal, accompanied by the splashing of water. 

First Voice f The moon docs not rise till late tO''night 

Second Voice i It's black enough now for the Devil to 
be abroad without being recognized. 

First Voice ; Why art thou always thinking of the 
Devil? 

Second Voice / By StPctcr, neighbour, it is only when 
I am with thee ( 

It is not necessary that these remarks should be intelli- 
gible upon the stage, and, indeed it will be better ii they 
are not. But the usual "murmur" of the stage is too 
obviously not conversation. Therefore it is always better 
to say adtual words, though the import a not heard. 
A short silence. 
A Cry Out on the Canal', Whither away! 

Enter the Lady MargucfitJu Slo^* : 



XXI 



©f Jt OTalTlmn 



Df H Caliban 



jj 



HE flowers he gave me are faded and deadj 
So I pluck no roses a* gleam with the dew, 
For he lies out there in his ocean bed, 
And I wear the dead flowers for my lover true. 
Eater Lord Pietro. 
Pie t to I Art thou alone? Pray tell me where my 
daughter is. 

Marguerite} Most excellent Signor, I do await her here 
myself. 

Plctro! I have not seen her since last night. I think, 
Marguerita, that my daughter broods on something she does 
not tell me oi, 

Marguerita I Dost think, my lord, she hath a grief? 
Pteirof I fear 'tis so. Can you not persuade her to con.* 
fide her grief to you? 

Marguerita I She wraps herself in silence like a cloak 
Pietroi Aye, so she does. But any woman baffles me, 
I understand the way to guide a state. But the more I study 
women the less I know of them, 

. Margueritai Here comes Lucfczia, 

Lu^rc^ia caters, crosses to her father, kisses his hand and 
tocchcs her friend m a friendly way in passing. Her 
manner is dignified and stately. She has no qoick move- 
ments. There is nothing coquettish about her. 



xxu 



Pietrot Where hast thou been my child? How hast "^ *^ J^^OllB 
thou spent the day? ®f a (Ealiban 

Lucrezhf In longing for the night. 

Pietro/ Why should s't thou weary for the night? I 
thought youth loved the day. 

Lucrezia: And so it may. But melancholy thoughts 
thrive best at night 

P/e fro,' Thought! Thou talkest like a professor more 
than a woman. At thine age I concerned myself much more 
with action than with thought, 

Lucrczidi Action? I am a woman! I can do nothing 
for the world. 

Marguerita) You make it more beautiful, 

Pietrof Care you nothing for that? I heard you say 
one day you were content to live only to see how beautiful 
the world could grow, 

Lucrezidi Did I say so? Why yes, beauty I know is 
the sole medium for truth. At least for truth that can appeal 
to me. I know not right from wrong myself. These 
things may change. But beauty I do know. It comes from 
heaven. And nothing can be good which is not beautiful 

During the last sentence Massimilliano cntcfi and standi 
unobserved. He is much stooped, with a hrge head 
hanging almost on his breast. His face is distorted, he 
limps, and has a furtive way of lifting his eyes. He comes 
forward lau?lnng hirshlv. 
XXIU 



[l\t U>fX}Xt Massimilliano I How, then, must the noble lady admire 

Df ^ (Ediban ^^, 

SSi btigh indulgently. 

Pietrof Thou handsome fellow! Dost thou never 
knock 1 Hast leave to enter a lady's room in this fashion 1 

Ma^sIniilJwfjo / Dost a dog knock, my lord ? I am 
refused admittance nowhere — except heaven, 

Pietro f Then wilt thou also escape the pangs of hell. If 
thou hast no privilege thou wilt have no punishment. 

Massitnilliano / Is it so ? Then divine law is different 

from human. For we have no rewards for virtue although 

we have grim punishment for vice, 

Locrezia throws herself on a cooch and fans herself 
languidly. Marguerita sits beside her. 

Lucrezh/ Waste no words on this rattler, I beg. He 
has stood too long in the sun and turned sour, 

MassimilUdno / My lady is the sun of Venice. How 
should her favour turn me sour ? 

Pietro } Enough, fool Lucrezia, I bring thee here 

tO'^ight, the Lord Ascanio, He has come to ask me for thy 

hand. What answer wilt thou give? 

Massimilliano has been lying upon the floor actf 
Lucrezia. looking at her intently. Now he springs up, 
seizes a bunch of flowers she has m her hand, and hurls 
them to the floor. 



XXIV 



AUi What is it/ Th^^ ^1X1^ 

MassimillUnot A tarantula! A tarantula! ®f 9 QIaliban 

Lucrcziaf Fool! There was no tarantula. Dost caU 

this a jest? 

MassImMano/ {Laughing satirically.) Dost the lady 

think she can see all of the dangers that surround her ? It 

takes a prophetic eye to do that. Whence came these flowers? 
Margucritaf From the Lord Ascanio. 
MassimilUano f \ thought as much. It was a tarantula 

in the leaves, my lady. 

Exit Pietro. Msssimilhano sings; 

^ E gave her a purse and a noble name; 
Why does the lady weep so? 
He gave her land and he gave her famef 
Why does the lady weep? 
Highest of all the dames was shej 
Why does the lady weep so? 
"The grave is the only place for mej" 
Thus did the lady weep, 

Margucritdi Silence! Thou croakcst like a frog. 

Lucrczu regards the Jester latently end sidly as if his 
woris disturbed her. She rncs quickly as her father 
enters accompanied by Lord Ascamo. During the ex- 
change of salutations. Massimilliano makes a grotesque 
lanilition of thtm. 
XXV 




pKg I 0XtB Massimillianof I beg the pardon of the honorable conv 

)f a QTHTtbEtX pany. But I can bow no lower. My grace was so great the 
first time I ever made a salute to a lady that I have never been 
allowed to rise, 

Margucrltaf And who was the lady, fool ? 

Maasimilliano} The only one who knows the value of 
silence — ^the most prolific of her sex — the mother of us 
all — Earth, 

Ascanioi Lady Lucrezia, dost thou know my errand? 

Lucrezia/ 1 have been told it Lord Ascanio, by my 
father and I thank thee for the honour bestowed, 

Massimilliaao to Marguenta /Hovr dry words crackle, 

Ascanio f Lady, I can not keep from loving thee, U it 
be an honour it is one I yield perforce, 

Pietro to Lucreziaf What answer hast thou? 

Lucrezia t Father, I will tell thee and this gentleman 
the truth, I have not seen the man I love, 

Ascanio } Thou sendest me away? 

Lucrezia f I said not so. 

Pietro I My child ! 

Ascanio f Lady Lucrezia! 



XXVI 



Lucrczia/ Listen to mc. i think I love, But then i '{'\^> I^qxiC 
know not whom it is I love, I think that he loves me, Yet ©fa Caliban 
know I not his name, nor how his face looks« nor his rank 
or worthiness, 

Pietrof These riddles are unworthy of my daughter. 

Lucrezia/ Pardon me, I mean no disrespect to thee 
nor to this gentle lord, I can not tell thee what I mean — not 
now, To/morrow night, since thou art pleased to set a fete 
forth for me in celebration of my natal day, I will unravel this 
perplexing tangle, if you please. Until then, Lord Ascanio, 
thy love, if love it be, must wait 

Ascanio f If love it be Thou canst not doubt my love 7 

Lucrezia f How should I know what love is like, my 
lord? 

Quintette m which Lucrezia. Marguerita. Pietro and 
Ascanio sing in harmony, Massimilliano singing in car- 
icature, his tone and manner at variance with the others, 
being farcical and bitter. All sing : 



XXVII 







OW does love come? 
Is it with banners? 

Is he wreathed like a victor with laurel and 
bay? 
Massimilliano f Love is blind and he walks this way, 

( Groping and limping^ 
y^ljf Time is a captive lashed to his chariot wheels. 
MasshnilUanoi And folly comes comes dangling along after 

his heels. 
His garments are tinted with purple and rose, 
And laughter re-echoes wherever he goes. 
How does love come? Love? Bahl 
/illf Love comes with banners, 

MassimilUano} How does love come? Hal hal hal hal 
Ail I His song is the sweetest the weary world hathi 
And roses all perfumed, spring up in his path, 
Massinuliinnoi Love? Hal ha! hal hal 



xxvm 



Ascaniof Lady Lucrezia, to-morrow night! {Bowtt Th^ LfilSI: 

exit) ©f n (Mihm 

Pietro te Marguetitat Said I not all women were a 
mystery? {Exit) 

Matgiieritat Dear Lucrezia, hast prepared for the fete 
to-morrow night? 

Lucrezia} I am always prepared for a fete Marguerita, 
It is only a funeral that would find me unprepared. 

Massimiiiianos And yet one is sure of funeralsi and 
never of fetes. 

Margueritaf With thy permission I will seek my room, 
May I send thy maid to thee ? 

Lucrezia f No, no, not now! Go to thy bed dear Mar*- 
guerita, And sleep a dreamless sleep, 

Massimilliano ; Lady, pray let her dream while she is 
sleeping if she can. She hath not wit enough to dream wak^ 
ing dreams. 

Marguerite} Lucrezia, thou givest that fellow too much 
liberty, Good/^ight 

Exit. Lucrezia throws hcrscU upon the so^a, vith hef 
(cct still touching the floor. Massimilliano sits upon th( 
floor at her feet- 



XXIX 



?llt LtnJB Massimillianoi Princes have been here before me, 

Of a (Ealtiian Lucreziai A prince is no more than any other man, 

good fooL He has but two eyes, a mouth, two ears and a 
tongue. It is no argument to me to call a man a prince, 

Massimillianoi Lady dost ever go to confession? 

Lucreziaf Faithfully, Why dost thou ask? 

Massimilliano} I thought that if the lady did not I would 
ask her to take me for a father confessor, 

Lucreziaf Dost think I could get good advice from thee? 

MassitnilUano f The lady could get something better. 
She could get allegories, I noticed a while ago that she was 
interested in allegories, 

Lucreziaf I have a question to ask thee, wiseacre. 
Which is the most precious of our senses? That which lets 
us see, taste, hear, smell or touch? 

Massiwillianof Surely, that which lets us see the faces 
of our enemies, 

Lucreziaf I should have said myself that I would rather 
lose any dear sense I have than that of sight. But listen, fool. 
Hearing is the most precious thing we have, ' T is sound 
alone that can transport the soul beyond mere earthly things 
and fill it with a sense ineffable, 

Massimillianof Why dost the lady say this? 

Locrezia leans forward, and idly picks up the fool's bells 
toying vith them as she talks. 

XXX 



Lucrcziai Because a voice alone hath taught me how to Th^ l-jOU^ 
feel Fool, tho' thou gibest, thou art a true friend of mine. 0f 3 QTaltliatl 
So I will tell to thee a secret on which my soul feeds night 
and day. And thou shalt tell me what to do. Listen — night 
after night, for all the summer past, below my window, hid/' 
den in the shade, there sings a voice, Man there may be with 
it, but never have I laid one glance on him, 

Massimilluno falls forward on the floor, resting hu head 
upon hi5 bandi and looking at her covertly. 

Massimillianof The voice— what was it like? 
Lucreziaf What is it like? Like the dear echo of my 
secret soul ! 

Massimtlliano looks straight at her for a moment, and 
then borsts into a £t of laughter. Suddenly he stops, and 
looking at her angtily. snatches the bells from her. 

Massimillianof Give me my bells I I have nothing but 
my fcolcraft! "Wilt thou take that from me? Thou hast no 
right to come to me for aught but folly, A friend of thine? 
Not so, I am the fool. 

He starts to go oxxX. then return*. 

Massimillianof And so the voice was like the echo of 
thy secret soul? 

Bonis into another 6t of laoghtcr and exits, singing 
•• How does love come ? Love ! Bah f " 

Lucrezia sits still for a few moments. From out on the 
Canal come voices and the splashing of water. 

XXXI 



^^t tJiXl.t Fifst Voices The palace is dark, 

)f E QTalibEtt Second Voice f All but the light in the Lady Lucrezia's 

window. 

First Voice / She has a fete tO'^morrow given for her 
birthday by the Doge, 

Second Voice! They say she is to wear the family 
jewels, ' T will be the first time that they have been worn 
since she was born. Their sparkle has been hidden in the 
iron coffers of the Doge, 

Lttcrezu arises and paces the loot with her head la an 

attitode of thought. She goes to the window and looks 

out. Silefice for a few seconds. 

Lucreziai This silence is a bubble I would burst. Where 

is the voice? When will he come? The day has seemed so 

long. Foolish maid to live but for a voice ( 



xxxu 




HEN of war it sings, ,,,, ♦ 

I feel my spirit swell, ^3 j ^ q;. | • ^.^^^ 

And in my sense there rings 

The awful din of war's relentless hclli 
Hero am I, and unafraid of death } 
And life a thistle, to be blown with idle breath. 

Of love it sings, 

And then myself I yield 

To fancies light as wings 

Of butterflies in summcr/flowcrcd field j 

And sweet as honey that the wild bee sips, 

Are fancied kisses raining on my lips. 

She pauses and Ii^tcas. Tiicfc is a slight uuisc uudcr 
the vindow. and Massimilliano sings : 



xxxm 




Pietrof I greet yoa with all courtesy. The occasion is '^^h^ LOUF 
auspicious, and cchbrates a joyous day. For now my fflf H (Halttatl 
daughter enters into her estate, full mistress of herself, a 
woman now, and done with all the chaste seclusion of a maid, 
ChoruBf— 
NCHANTED arc the fields a maiden walks, 
There Cupid's poppies grow and scatter sleep* 
Youth plucks the thorns from off the roses' stalks, 
And sweet illusions all the senses steep, 
And now from out these pleasure-^haunted fieldsi 
Our lady comes with shy yet stately tread, 
"What can we else but full allegiance yield 
To womanhood's sweet crown upon her head? 

After the smgmg of the chorus, which occupies several 
minutes, a part of the company form for the dancing of the 
Saraband. The musicians appear upon the stage, and Mas- 
similliano emerges from a bass viol. Throughout the dance 
Be indulges in grotesque mimicry. This stately dance pro- 
ceeds with approporate orchestration, and at its conclusion 
a train of maidens enter, dressed in white, and carrying 
many flowers, accompanying the Lady Lucrezia, who is 
dressed in white satin embroidered in gold, with girdle and 
coronet of jewels. The Doge descends and leads her to the 
chair beside his own. The maidens group themselves about 
her. During the singing of the following chorus, as well 
as the preceding one. the singers should stand in casual and 
natural groups, and not as choruses usually do. It may be 
necessary for the various parts to be in proximity, but they 
need not to be in rows. 



XXXVU 




!'h^ t^tXyXt Chorus f-- 

)f U Ctolihan j^^^S^^ OMANHOOD won is a fair crown of glory, 

In reverent joy will we chant its praise. 
Oh! still may it be the chief charm of story j 
Still fire the theme of the poet's lays, 
Ltjctczi§j I thank you for your greeting. Yes, sweet is 
womanhood, sweet its knowledge, sweet its friendships, and 
sweet its very griefs. Sweet too, its love, which is both joy 
and grief. And here to/night, I come to test the meaning of 
that love, half^known to me, and dimly understood, 

Fietto^ My daughter, what dost thou mean? I can not 
guess the import of thy words, 

Lucreziaf Fear not my father, that I will do aught to 
shame these guests or thee, 

Piettoi Speak on. Explain the meaning. 



xxxvni 




UT this I mean. I pray of htm, ©f ^ mUmtX 

Who nightly sings his songs to mc, 
Beneath my window's shaded rim, 
I To tell his name and his degree, 
Never had maid a tale so strange, 
Never did maid make such a choice, 
For though my heart can never change, 
Yet that I love is but a voice, 
And if among these gentle lords, 
There any be my hand would plight. 
Whose singing with my heart accords. 
Then he may have my troth to-night, 

Ascdniof My lady, thou playest me false! Had I not thy » 

promise for to-night? Wert thou not to give me my answer? 
LucrczUf It is given. If thou cans't prove to me that 
thou art he who nightly sings when all the rest arc still, and 
who awakens my dull heart to happiness and life, then I am 
thine, Ascanio, to the end, 



XXXIX 



\t L0tJ0 Aseaniof I do not think thou makest honorable answer, 

" U (SLulxhViXX Lucrcziai Yet if thou provest the voice is thine, I will 

make thee an honorable wife, Ascanio, 
There is a pause, 
Marguentat No one comes to joust in this strange 
tournament 

Pietret Are there none here who dare lay claim to be 
singers? 

Luerezia (sadly,) Many there be here who can sing. 
But which of them can sing my soul away? 

Massifflilliano has been sitting on the steps of the dais, 
smirking and whispering with the coortiers. While 
Luerezia sang he lay fiat, playing softly with his bells, and 
looking at them as if he were conscious of nothing else. 
Now suddenly, he springs before the dais, flings away his 
bells, and cries : 

MassitnilUanot The voice is mine, 

All laugh in derision. Luerezia looks at him angrily. 
Luerezia $ I'll not forgive thee for a jest to/night Bc^ 
gone, friend fooll Another time 111 listen to thy pranks* 

Some one tries to drag him away. He fling them off, 
throws his cap in the face of Ascanio, and sings : 



xxxx 




'M but a voice to thee! ^j^ ^^^ 

I 'm but a voice to thee! ©f g dfeKban 

Out from the vast of the deep, 
And down from the vast of the sky, 
I fling my cry, 

Through the chambers of sleep. 
Oh! wake and hear, for love has come late. 
Time is old and the world is grey. 
Under thy window I stand and wait, 
Anear thee, love, till the dawn of day. 
The perfumed breath from the roses blown 
Is the incense I burn wherever thou art 
I have made the voice of the winds my own. 
And the stars of the sky arc the eyes of my heart. 

The company stands spellbound lo the end. At first 
Locrezia looks at him incredulously. Then a look of hor* 
ror overspreads her face. She covers it with a silken scarf 
hanging from her gridle. Massimilliano ceases his song, 
stares at her in doubt as to the nature of her emotion, rushes 
up and tears the scarf from her face, and seeing there only 
hauteor and shame, reels back. A moment later the lords 
surge toward him. as if they would run him through. 
Massimilliano stcs them, laughs and waves them back, darts 
forward, kisses Lucrezia upon the neck, and drawing a stil 
letto from his belt, plunges it into hi.s heart. 
XXX3CI 



X> And here, then, cndcth the tale of the 
love of Massimilliano, the Fool, as set forth 
in rhyme & rhythm JSC by Elia W, Peattie, 
and made into this book AI at the Philoso^ 
phcr Press A) which is in Wausau, A^ A 
Wisconsin, A seen through the press by 
A Helen Bruneau Van Vechtcn X> and 
finished this twenty^ninth day of January 
MDCCCXCVIIl AAA 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

liiillllililljilllllllll 

018 349 337 1/ 



